U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Texas (Jan. 10)

***
Halliburton Energy Services Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Halliburton Energy Services, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,352,221) developed by Shilin Chen, The Woodlands, Texas, for "methods and systems for design and/or selection of drilling equipment based on wellbore drilling simulations."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and systems may be provided for simulating forming a wide variety of directional wellbores including wellbores with variable tilt rates and/or relatively constant tilt rates. The methods and systems may also be used to simulate forming a wellbore in subterranean formations having a combination of soft, medium and hard formation materials, multiple layers of formation materials and relatively hard stringers disposed throughout one or more layers of formation material."
The patent application was filed on Nov. 2, 2010 (12/938,151). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,221&OS=8,352,221&RS=8,352,221
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Landmark Graphics Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Landmark Graphics, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,352,226) developed by Alvin Stanley Cullick, Houston, and William Douglas Johnson, Austin, Texas, for "methods, systems, and computer-readable media for real-time oil and gas field production optimization using a proxy simulator."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods, systems, and computer readable media are provided for real-time oil and gas field production optimization using a proxy simulator. A base model of a reservoir, well, pipeline network, or processing system is established in one or more physical simulators. A decision management system is used to define control parameters, such as valve settings, for matching with observed data. A proxy model is used to fit the control parameters to outputs of the physical simulators, determine sensitivities of the control parameters, and compute correlations between the control parameters and output data from the simulators. Control parameters for which the sensitivities are below a threshold are eliminated. The decision management system validates control parameters which are output from the proxy model in the simulators. The proxy model may be used for predicting future control settings for the control parameters."
The patent application was filed on Jan. 31, 2007 (11/669,921). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,226&OS=8,352,226&RS=8,352,226
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Drug purchases are evaluated according to available offers from drug manufacturers, based on the equivalent dosage regimens for similar drugs. Equivalent doses among drugs are calculated. Purchasing amounts of equivalent doses of drugs are reviewed. The costs of the equivalent doses of the drugs are compared, taking into account contractual price adjustments, such as discounts and rebates. Subsequent purchasing amounts of the drugs are determined, using results from the comparisons. The new purchasing amounts of the equivalent doses of the drugs are produced."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 3, 2007 (11/866,931). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,283&OS=8,352,283&RS=8,352,283
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method for predicting petroleum production is provided. An exemplary embodiment of The computer-implemented comprises computing a first approximation of an amount of generated petroleum that is retained with a complex organic product using a Threshold and a Maximum Retention value. The exemplary method also comprises revising the first approximation by approximating a process of chemical fractionation using at least one partition factor to create a revised approximation and predicting petroleum production based on the revised approximation."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 1, 2009 (12/571,937). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,228&OS=8,352,228&RS=8,352,228
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
One Network Enterprises Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- One Network Enterprises, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,300) developed by Ranjit Notani, Southlake, Texas, Greg Brady, Dallas, and Sivakoumar Arumugam, Denton, Texas, for a "system, computer program and method for implementing and managing a value chain network."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A system, computer program product and method for implementing and managing a value chain network. The computer program product includes allowing a first company having one or more clusters of retail stores and a second company in a value chain network to access to a shared database, having first and second plurality of fields in the shared database are uniquely associated with each respective first and second company, on a service provider computer over a network; linking the first company with one or more of the second plurality of fields; linking the second company with one or more of the first plurality of fields; periodically receiving sales information and events, including a demand event and a supply event, on the value network within at least one of the one or more clusters of retail stores; and updating one or more of the first plurality of fields that are linked to the second company upon receipt of at least one selected from the group consisting of the sales information, the demand event and the supply event. The first and second company are linked and provided limited access to the one or more of the respective second and first plurality of fields without creating a copy. The one or more updated first plurality of fields are immediately accessible to the first and second company."
The patent application was filed on June 22, 2011 (13/165,789). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,300&OS=8,352,300&RS=8,352,300
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
International Business Machines Assigned Patent for Distributed Grid-interactive Photovoltaic-based Power Dispatching
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- International Business Machines, Armonk, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,352,091) developed by Julianne F. Haugh, Austin, Texas, for a "distributed grid-interactive photovoltaic-based power dispatching."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In one embodiment, each of a plurality of sites may produce surplus power. All or a fraction of the surplus power may be supplied to the power grid according to an agreement between the user of a site and an electric utility. A computer of the utility is in communication with a computer at each of a plurality of sites having a local power source. Terms of power provision that include an amount of power to be provided during a specified time of day is communicated between a site and the utility."
The patent application was filed on Jan. 2, 2009 (12/348,042). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,091&OS=8,352,091&RS=8,352,091
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Damaka Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Damaka, Richardson, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,563) developed by Sivakumar Chaturvedi, Allen, Texas, and Satish Gundabathula, Irving, Texas, for a "system and method for peer-to-peer media routing using a third party instant messaging system for signaling."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to engage in a call with another endpoint using a third party instant message system to carry instant messages containing signaling information and a route that is external to the third party instant message system for both signaling and media information."
The patent application was filed on April 29, 2010 (12/770,482). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,563&OS=8,352,563&RS=8,352,563
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An exemplary method for filtering multi-component seismic data is provided. One or more characteristics of the seismic data corresponding to a relative manifestation of surface wave noise on the different components, such as polarization attributes, are identified. A time-frequency boundary in the seismic data is also identified in the time-frequency transform domain, the time-frequency boundary delineating portions of the seismic data estimated to contain surface wave noise (302). Finally, filtered seismic data are created (306) by removing portions of the seismic data that correspond to the identified characteristics of surface waves and that are within the time-frequency boundary (303)."
The patent application was filed on Feb. 18, 2009 (12/865,533). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,192&OS=8,352,192&RS=8,352,192
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
International Business Machines Assigned Patent for Method and System for Workload Balancing to Assist in Power Grid Load Management
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- International Business Machines, Armonk, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,352,092) developed by five co-inventors for a "method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management." The co-inventors are Gregory Jensen Boss, Saginaw, Mich., Rick Allen Hamilton II, Charlottesville, Va., Julianne Frances Haugh, Austin, Texas, and Anne R. Sand, Peyton, Colo.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management. The method includes receiving a request to perform a task at a site powered by connection to an AC power grid, the task comprising either data processing or manufacturing an article; measuring an AC frequency of the AC power grid to obtain a current AC frequency; and performing or not performing the task at the site based on the current AC frequency."
The patent application was filed on Nov. 17, 2009 (12/619,746). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,092&OS=8,352,092&RS=8,352,092
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Intuit Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Intuit, Mountain View, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,352,564) developed by Leon Campise, Plano, Texas, and Mike Leftwich, Farmers Branch, Texas, for a "system and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A system and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server. An e-mail client generates an e-mail message comprising a surrogate e-mail address and data elements conveyed within standard fields of the e-mail message. The surrogate e-mail address also comprises data and instructions directed to a specialized software program. A message server parses the surrogate e-mail address and the e-mail content. Information relating to a specialized software program is extracted and translated into instructions and data elements. The specialized software program operates on the data elements based on the instructions obtained from the e-mail message."
The patent application was filed on Aug. 29, 2011 (13/220,427). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,564&OS=8,352,564&RS=8,352,564
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Assigned Patent for Method for Analyzing Multiple Geophysical Data Sets
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- ExxonMobil Upstream Research, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,352,190) developed by Anatoly Baumstein, Houston, and Ramesh Neelamani, Houston, for a "method for analyzing multiple geophysical data sets."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for interpolating seismic data. The method includes collecting seismic data of two or more types over a field (401), determining an approximation to one of the types of the seismic data (402), and performing a wave-field transformation on the approximation to form a transformed approximation (405), wherein the transformed approximation corresponds to another of the collected types of seismic data. The method may also include setting the transformed approximation to match the measured seismic data of the corresponding types at matching locations (408), performing a wave-field transformation on the transformed approximation to form an output approximation (412), and using the output approximation to obtain a data representation of a geological layer (416)."
The patent application was filed on Jan. 8, 2010 (12/684,607). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,190&OS=8,352,190&RS=8,352,190
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Landis+Gyr Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Landis+Gyr, Lafayette, Ind., has been assigned a patent (8,352,191) developed by John P. McAhren, Houston, for "seismic detection in electricity meters."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An arrangement for recording seismic events includes an electricity meter sensor circuit, a digital processing circuit, and an accelerometer operably connected to the digital processing circuit. The accelerometer is configured to provide signals representative of seismic information to the digital processing circuit. A memory is configured to store data records relating to at least some of the seismic information."
The patent application was filed on Jan. 4, 2010 (12/652,007). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,191&OS=8,352,191&RS=8,352,191
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Parallel Networks Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Parallel Networks, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,570) developed by Avinash C. Saxena, Plano, Texas, for a "method and system for uniform resource locator transformation."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A web browser (20) at a client (12) generates a request (26) for content from an origin server (18). A cache server (16) intercepts the request and examines the request to determine whether the request should be transformed. More specifically, the cache server compares transform criteria (40) to a uniform resource identifier portion (28) and a header portion (30) associated with the request. By transforming the request such that information in the header portion is included in the uniform resource identifier portion, the cache server can cache the content associated with the request using the uniform resource identifier portion of the request."
The patent application was filed on Aug. 4, 2009 (12/535,348). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,570&OS=8,352,570&RS=8,352,570
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A system and method for online configuration of a measurement system. The user may access a server over a network and specify a desired task, e.g., a measurement task, and receive programs and/or configuration information which are usable to configure the user's measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the desired task. Additionally, if the user does not have the hardware required to perform the task, the required hardware may be sent to the user, along with programs and/or configuration information. The hardware may be reconfigurable hardware, such as an FPGA or a processor/memory based device. In one embodiment, the required hardware may be pre-configured to perform the task before being sent to the user. In another embodiment, the system and method may provide a graphical program in response to receiving the user's task specification, where the graphical program may be usable by the measurement system to perform the task."
The patent application was filed on Dec. 7, 2009 (12/632,113). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,209&OS=8,352,209&RS=8,352,209
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Lennox Industries Assigned Patent for Communication Protocol System and Method for a Distributed-architecture Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Network
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Lennox Industries, Richardson, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,080) developed by Wojciech Grohman, Little Elm, Texas, Darko Hadzidedic, Plano, Texas, and Daniel Sullivan, Rowlett, Texas, for a "communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An HVAC data processing and communication network includes a subnet controller and at least one demand unit. A bus interface device associated with the demand unit is configured to receive a demand message from the subnet controller over the network. The bus interface device controls an operation of said demand unit in response to said demand message."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 21, 2009 (12/603,526). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,080&OS=8,352,080&RS=8,352,080
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Stemco LP Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Stemco LP, Longview, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,210) developed by Mark J. Kranz, Hallsville, Texas, for a "multiple accelerometer apparatus for counting rotations of an object, and methods of use."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A system determines the revolutions of an object using multiple accelerometers. A difference vector between at least 2 multi-axis accelerometers spaced some distance apart is used to calculate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional centripetal acceleration vector. The centripetal acceleration vector is then used as a rough estimate for the sampling rate for a digital tracking bandpass filter. This bandpass filter extracts angular orientation data leading to a sampling rate and to a revolution totalizer. The number of revolutions of the object, along with a known diameter of an attached object, such as a vehicle wheel, may be used to calculate distance traveled by the object."
The patent application was filed on July 23, 2010 (12/842,446). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,210&OS=8,352,210&RS=8,352,210
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Dell Products Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Dell Products, Round Rock, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,586) developed by Jacob Cherian, Austin, Texas, Gaurav Chawla, Austin, Texas, and Lazarus J. Vekiarides, West Roxbury, Mass., for a "system and method for storage discovery in a storage area network using device domains under control of a storage device."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A storage area network (SAN) includes a management server, a storage device, and a management station coupled to a fabric. The management server implements device domains on the SAN. The storage device instructs the management server to add new device domains on the SAN. The management station defines the new device domains to include the storage device and an initiator coupled to the fabric, and directs the storage device to instruct the management server to add the new device domains. A method includes coupling a management server to a SAN fabric, implementing device domains in the management server, defining a new device domain that includes a storage device and an initiator coupled to the SAN, and coupling a storage device to the SAN fabric, the storage device being operable to instruct the management server to add the new device domain."
The patent application was filed on Nov. 1, 2011 (13/286,627). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,586&OS=8,352,586&RS=8,352,586
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
Lennox Industries Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Lennox Industries, Richardson, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,081) developed by Wojciech Grohman, Little Elm, Texas, for a "communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a demand unit and a subnet controller. The demand unit is coupled to a data bus and configured to provide a primary service having a maximum service capacity. The subnet controller is configured to send a demand message to the demand unit via the data bus instructing the demand unit to provide a portion of the maximum."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 21, 2009 (12/603,558). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,352,081&OS=8,352,081&RS=8,352,081
Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

***
Zenverge Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Zenverge, Santa Clara, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,351,510) developed by Anthony D. Masterson, Saratoga, Calif., Alexander N. Kipnis, Mountain View, Calif., and Dzung Tien Hoang, Austin, Texas, for a "motion compensated noise reduction using shared motion estimation engine."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An apparatus and method for generating predictors performs motion estimation of a target macroblock in a target field against data segments in reference fields. The same motion estimation engine is used to perform various image processing operations to efficiently use resources of the apparatus. Different reference fields are used depending on modes of operation. In a deinterlacing mode, deinterlacing is performed using directional interpolation, recursive motion compensated deinterlacing, and motion adaptive deinterlacing."
The patent application was filed on Jan. 29, 2009 (12/362,436). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,51,510.PN.&OS=PN/83,51,510&RS=PN/83,51,510
Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.

***
YR20 Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- YR20, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,351,325) developed by four co-inventors for a "method and system for layer-2 pseudo-wire rapid-deployment service over unknown internet protocol networks." The co-inventors are Michael Hinz, Houston, William Hinz, Katy, Texas, Douglas Stevenson, Rosehearty, United Kingdom, and Timothy Everitt, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An International Standards Organization ("OSI") Layer-2 ("Ethernet") Pseudo-wire ("OSI Layer-1 type service") appliance, method, system and hub service is disclosed. The method and system facilitate the rapid deployment of Layer-2 Pseudo-wires over unknown and untrusted Internet Protocol ("IP") networks. The method and system facilitate the fluid edge of corporate networks and any situation where the Layer-3 network addresses cannot be changed."
The patent application was filed on Aug. 18, 2010 (12/806,641). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,51,325.PN.&OS=PN/83,51,325&RS=PN/83,51,325
Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and apparatus for improved single-mode selection in a quantum cascade laser. In one example, a distributed feedback grating incorporates both index-coupling and loss-coupling components. The loss-coupling component facilitates selection of one mode from two possible emission modes by periodically incorporating a thin layer of "lossy" semiconductor material on top of the active region to introduce a sufficiently large loss difference between the two modes. The lossy layer is doped to a level sufficient to induce considerable free-carrier absorption losses for one of the two modes while allowing sufficient gain for the other of the two modes. In alternative implementations, the highly-doped layer may be replaced by other low-dimensional structures such as quantum wells, quantum wires, and quantum dots with significant engineered intraband absorption to selectively increase the free-carrier absorption losses for one of multiple possible modes so as to facilitate single-mode operation."
The patent application was filed on Nov. 5, 2009 (13/126,576). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,51,481.PN.&OS=PN/83,51,481&RS=PN/83,51,481
Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.

***
Motorola Mobility Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Motorola Mobility, Libertyville, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,351,336) developed by Zhijun Cai, Irving, Texas, for an "arbitration of measurement gap coincidence with random access."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A user agent is provided. The user agent is configured to perform a random access procedure and to perform radio measurements. The random access procedure comprises deciding when to send a random access preamble based on a possible occurrence of a measurement gap, transmitting a random access preamble on an uplink, and monitoring a physical downlink control channel for a random access response."
The patent application was filed on Aug. 4, 2009 (12/535,577). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,51,336.PN.&OS=PN/83,51,336&RS=PN/83,51,336
Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a message comprising a node's data value from the node, determining whether a local data value has been assigned, and adopting the node's data value as the local data value when the local data value has not been assigned. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a plurality of ports each configured to couple to a node via a link, a memory configured to store a port data value associated with at least some of the ports, and a processor coupled to the memory and the ports, wherein the processor is configured to access a node's data value in a message and adopt the node's data value as the port data value."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 16, 2008 (12/252,698). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,51,348.PN.&OS=PN/83,51,348&RS=PN/83,51,348
Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Remote controls, including a communication device, a button or other communication device actuator and a movable structure that allows actuation of the actuator in one position and prevents actuation of the actuator in another position to prevent inadvertent signal transmission."
The patent application was filed on Nov. 28, 2006 (11/564,219). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,352,041.PN.&OS=PN/8,352,041&RS=PN/8,352,041
Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
Freescale Semiconductor Assigned Patent for Soft Program of a Non-volatile Memory Block
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Freescale Semiconductor, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,351,276) developed by Jon S. Choy, Austin, Texas, Chen He, Austin, Texas, and Michael A. Sadd, Austin, Texas, for a "soft program of a non-volatile memory block."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method includes erasing bits and identifying bits that have been over-erased by the erasing. A first subset of the bits that have been over-erased are soft programmed. The results of soft programming the first subset of bits is measured. An initial voltage condition from a plurality of possible voltage conditions based on the results from soft programming the first subset of bits is selected. A second subset of bits that have been over-erased are soft programmed. The soft programming applies the initial voltage condition to the bits in the second subset of bits. The second subset comprises bits that are still over-erased when the step of selecting occurs. The result is that the soft programming for the second subset may begin at a more optimum point for quickly achieving the needed soft programming to bring all of the bits within the desired erase condition."
The patent application was filed on July 13, 2010 (12/835,309). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,276&OS=8,351,276&RS=8,351,276
Written by Neha Bharti; edited by Jaya Anand.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A device receives network information, least cost route (LCR) forecast information, network administrator inputs, and looping exceptions, and receives a call, from an originating location, to a terminating location. The device determines a LCR for the call based on the network information, the LCR forecast information, the network administrator inputs, and the looping exceptions. The device generates routing instructions for the determined LCR, and provides the routing instructions to one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR. The call is routed to the terminating location, via the one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR, and based on the routing instructions."
The patent application was filed on Dec. 17, 2010 (12/971,524). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,584&OS=8,351,584&RS=8,351,584
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
Micron Technology Assigned Patent for Apparatuses and Methods to Reduce Power Consumption in Digital Circuits
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Micron Technology, Boise, Idaho, has been assigned a patent (8,351,272) developed by Harish N. Venkata, Allen, Texas, for "apparatuses and methods to reduce power consumption in digital circuits."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in digital circuits, particularly circuits including a charge pump. A driver may selectively drive a signal line, such as a memory device wordline, between a first voltage, which may be a voltage generated by the charge pump, and a different second voltage. A coupling circuit may be coupled between the signal line and the charge pump to selectively couple the signal line to the charge pump responsive to the signal line being driven from the first voltage to the second voltage. For example, the first voltage may be a voltage generated by the charge pump, and the second voltage may be a voltage having a lesser magnitude. As a result, the voltage on the signal line may be discharged into the charge pump when the voltage of the signal line transitions from the first voltage to the second voltage."
The patent application was filed on July 2, 2010 (12/830,151). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,272&OS=8,351,272&RS=8,351,272
Written by Neha Bharti; edited by Jaya Anand.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 11, 2010 (12/902,088). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,591&OS=8,351,591&RS=8,351,591
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
Metropcs Wireless Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Metropcs Wireless, Richardson, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,351,590) developed by Mesut Guven, Allen, Texas, for a "selective call reject feature for a telephone."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A telephone includes first circuitry enabling communications with a telephone network. A call block list includes at least one user designated number. A call blocking logic module is implemented within the first circuitry and selectively blocks incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list."
The patent application was filed on Aug. 7, 2007 (11/834,786). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,590&OS=8,351,590&RS=8,351,590
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Optical methods, devices, and systems for noninvasively detecting transient surface displacements in a neuron are disclosed. Methods, devices, and systems provided may employ a phase-sensitive optical low coherence reflectometer. In addition, surface displacements due to action potential propagation in neural tissues may be detected in some embodiments using back-reflected light. According to some embodiments, exogenous chemicals or reflect ion coatings are not required. Transient neural surface displacement of less then 1 nm in amplitude and 1 ms in duration may be detected and may be generally coincident with action potential arrival to the optical measurement site. The systems and methods may be used for noninvasive detection of various neuropathies such as retinal neuropathies. They may also be useful in detecting the effects of various pharmacological agents."
The patent application was filed on March 4, 2010 (12/717,735). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,352,022.PN.&OS=PN/8,352,022&RS=PN/8,352,022
Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Hypoxia is diagnosed through measurements of oxygen saturation. Some examples of hypoxia conditions that may be diagnosed include peripheral vascular disease, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, ischemia, hypotension, and arteriosclerosis. In a specific implementation, a hypoxia condition is diagnosed based on changes in oxygen saturation in tissue. Ischemia is induced, and then measurements of changes in oxygen saturation in tissue are made. Based on changes in oxygen saturation, a diagnosis is provided of whether a patient has or does not have a hypoxia condition."
The patent application was filed on July 24, 2007 (11/782,394). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,352,006.PN.&OS=PN/8,352,006&RS=PN/8,352,006
Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
University of Texas System Assigned Patent for Noninvasive Blood Analysis by Optical Probing of the Veins Under the Tongue
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- The University of Texas System, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,352,005) developed by Rinat O. Esenaliev, League City, Texas, and Donald S. Prough, Galveston, Texas, for a "noninvasive blood analysis by optical probing of the veins under the tongue."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method for analysis of blood components or parameters is disclosed where a probe having an excitation outlet and a response inlet is placed in proximity to or in contact with a tissue of an underside of a patient's tongue over a big vein in the tongue so that an excitation signal exits the outlet, produces a response which enters the inlet for detection and analysis."
The patent application was filed on April 24, 2008 (12/150,108). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,352,005.PN.&OS=PN/8,352,005&RS=PN/8,352,005
Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
Automated Business Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Automated Business, Spring, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,351,592) developed by Charles C. Freeny Jr., Flower Mound, Texas, and Charles C. Freeny III, Flower Mound, Texas, for a "remote PBX system and advanced communication terminals."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method for providing a remote PBX service by a customer's phone service provider. More than one telephone number is assigned to one customer's telephone communication link. The one customer's telephone communication link is in communication with at least one telephone. A connect signal is received by the customer's phone service provider. The connect signal includes one of the telephone numbers assigned to the one customer's telephone communication link. A called telephone code is generated. The called telephone code is indicative of the one of the telephone numbers included in the connect signal. The called telephone code is sent to the customer's telephone communication link whereby a user of the customer's telephone communication link is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer's telephone communication link was called prior to answering the at least one telephone connected to the customer's telephone communication link. Thus, the customer's phone service provider provides the remote PBX service for the customer without the necessity of a local PBX."
The patent application was filed on April 13, 2007 (11/787,070). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,592&OS=8,351,592&RS=8,351,592
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
International Business Machines Assigned Patent for Multi-way Call Connection Management System
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- International Business Machines, Armonk, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,351,588) developed by Herman Rodriguez, Austin, Texas, Newton J. Smith Jr., Austin, Texas, and Clifford J. Spinac, Austin, Texas, for a "multi-way call connection management system."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention is directed to a multi-way connection management (MWCM) system for monitoring and maintaining call connections among a group of participating parties. The multi-way call connection may be established by connecting the originating party and the desired participating parties. Once a multi-way call connection is established, the multi-way call connection may be maintained until the originating party desires to terminate the call. Any disconnected party may rejoin the multi-way call by an automatic redial performed by the MWCM system. Additionally, the originating party may provide a call continuation period of the multi-way call when the originating party can rejoin the multi-way call. In this manner, other participating parties may stay in the multi-way call during the provided period without the originating party being connected. Advantageously, the originating party may save the time and effort of repeating a tedious process (by calling all other participating parties) to establish a multi-way call."
The patent application was filed on March 28, 2008 (12/057,651). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,588&OS=8,351,588&RS=8,351,588
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Images from checks may be compared with each other to detect a twice-deposited or represented check. An image of a check may be parsed into regions or tiles, for example. In an implementation, values for regions or tiles over a predetermined area (e.g., an area from a character in the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line at the bottom of the check to the dollar sign symbol) may be compared. In an implementation, a virtual overlay of two check images may be performed and a correlation may be determined."
The patent application was filed on June 11, 2008 (12/137,051). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,678&OS=8,351,678&RS=8,351,678
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
Accusoft Assigned Patent
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- Accusoft, Tampa, Fla., has been assigned a patent (8,351,699) developed by Dalong Li, Houston, John Elton, Atlanta, and Sebastian Steger, Darmstadt, Germany, for "methods and apparatus for auto image binarization."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A threshold determination method is selected from among a plurality of alternative global thresholding determination methods and, optionally, a local thresholding determination method based on characteristics of a histogram of grayscales values representing an image. When it is determined to use a global thresholding method, a single global binarization threshold value is determined using the selected global thresholding method. Various alternative global binarization threshold values include a predetermined constant, an average value of the two grayscale values, an Otsu method based threshold value, a Newton method based threshold value, and an Otsu method based threshold value based on a truncated version of the histogram. When it is determined to use local thresholding, a plurality of local binarization threshold values are determined corresponding to different non-overlapping blocks of the image. The determined binarization threshold(s) are applied to the gray scale pixel values to obtain a set of binary pixel values."
The patent application was filed on Dec. 18, 2009 (12/642,643). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,699&OS=8,351,699&RS=8,351,699
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

***
United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Assigned Patent for Systems and Methods for Remote Deposit of Checks
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10 -- United Services Automobile Association (USAA), San Antonio, has been assigned a patent (8,351,677) developed by five co-inventors for "systems and methods for remote deposit of checks." The co-inventors are Charles Lee Oakes III, San Antonio, Randy Ray Morlen, San Antonio, R. Bharat Prasad Nuggehalli, San Antonio, Greg Alan Harpel, San Antonio, and Michael Frank Morris, San Antonio.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired."
The patent application was filed on Oct. 31, 2006 (11/590,963). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,677&OS=8,351,677&RS=8,351,677
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A contactless system and method for estimating the volume, mass or weight of a target animal is provided. First, the target animal is imaged, preferably with a stereoscopic camera. A spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the stereoscopic images. Next, a virtual three-dimensional spatial model is provided, preferably having a shape resembling that of a characteristic of the animal to which the target animal belongs. A software module is provided to reshape the virtual spatial model, using a finite set of independently configurable shape variables, to approximately fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the volume, mass or weight of the target animal is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual model."
The patent application was filed on April 29, 2010 (12/770,268). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,351,656&OS=8,351,656&RS=8,351,656
Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.